diff --git a/services/syncbase/server/service.go b/services/syncbase/server/service.go
index b25d1bd..2349561 100644
--- a/services/syncbase/server/service.go
+++ b/services/syncbase/server/service.go
@@ -199,6 +199,9 @@
 	}
 
 	if newService && opts.InitialDB != (wire.Id{}) {
+		if err := pubutil.ValidateId(opts.InitialDB); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
 		// TODO(ivanpi): If service initialization fails after putting the service
 		// perms but before finishing initial database creation, initial database
 		// will never be created because service perms existence is used as a marker
diff --git a/services/syncbase/syncbaselib/serve.go b/services/syncbase/syncbaselib/serve.go
index dea394a..a409e6d 100644
--- a/services/syncbase/syncbaselib/serve.go
+++ b/services/syncbase/syncbaselib/serve.go
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@
 	"v.io/v23/options"
 	"v.io/v23/rpc"
 	wire "v.io/v23/services/syncbase"
-	pubutil "v.io/v23/syncbase/util"
 	"v.io/x/ref/lib/dispatcher"
 	"v.io/x/ref/lib/security/securityflag"
 	"v.io/x/ref/services/syncbase/server"
@@ -61,9 +60,6 @@
 		if initialDB, err = wire.ParseId(opts.InitialDB); err != nil {
 			ctx.Fatalf("ParseId(%s) failed: %v", opts.InitialDB, err)
 		}
-		if err := pubutil.ValidateId(initialDB); err != nil {
-			ctx.Fatalf("ValidateId(%v) failed: %v", initialDB, err)
-		}
 	}
 	service, err := server.NewService(ctx, server.ServiceOptions{
 		Perms:           perms,